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1956 o. A. HOLDER LEG, KNEE AND FOOT GUARD AND SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 28, 1955 INVENTOR David A. Holder ATTORNEY Feb. 7, 1956 AHOLDER LEG, KNEE AND FOOT GUARD AND SUPPORT 2 Shuts-Sheet 2 Filed Sept.28, 1953 INVENTOR David A. Holder MAJ a1 ATTORNEYJ LEG, KNEE, AND FOOTGUARD AND SUPPORT This invention relates to improvements in pads andUnited Sta es Patent T -i i b.- 7.195s

magnesium alloy, plastic or other rigid materialand toassistin'maintaining it upon the leg of the wearer, at the upper andlower ends, there are provided harnesses including a strap '15, at oneside, having a buckle 16 thereon, and a strap portion17 at the oppositeside perforated to receive the buckle prong. 'If desired, as shown inthe format invention B, the straps may take the form supports forprotecting and supporting without strain I adapted to be worn by thoseengaged in work which necessitates kneeling, such as in the agriculturalindustry, incidental to picking of strawberries, cotton and other lowgrowing crops.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description. In the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similarreference characters designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views: I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the improvedknee, leg and foot guard and support upon awearer.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing details of thepreferred form of guard and support.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the guard and support of Fig. 2. i aFig.4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 ofFig. 3. I

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through a modified formof knee, leg and foot guard and support.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the support of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse cross sectional view taken throughtheguard and support of Fig. 5, substantially on the line '77 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are showndifferent forms of the invention, the letters A and B may'generallydesignate the forms of invention shown in Figs. 2 and 5 respectively.Each of the same includes a main casing or'frame supporting padded bodyportion 10, with associated adjustable foot supporting and rest members11 and 12 respectively major length thereof. It also'extends around thesides of the leg of the wearer, as is shown in'Fig. l

of the drawings. "The frame or casing'portion ll is t of one piececonstruction, preferably of aluminium or v or" a strap portion 20threaded through an opening 21in one of'the sides of the frame 11 andsecured for length adjustable purposes in an adapter 22. The oppositeside of the frame 11 may have "a loop or staple 24 for detachablyreceiving a hook '25 secured to the free end of the strap 20. This willenable the straps to be quickly released from the leg. Throughdisconnection-of the hook 25 from the loop 24 the operator willbe ,ableto quickly release the upper part of the guard below the knee from hislegs in' order to assist in comfortable standing. I

Referring to the foot rest and support 11 for the form of invention 'A,the same is preferably of rigid material although it may be made'wit'hsome springiness to resiliently support the foot in a position withouttouching a the ground, such as shown in Fig. 1. .The same pref-' A ndinf rwardl extending sk d 37 is formed integral with the portion 35 andhas an arcuated skid end 38, as shown in the drawings. The portion 35 ofthe foot support member 11 is provided with a foot clamping beltassemblage 40 adapted to extend around the ball of the foot of thewearer and around the shoe, in position shown in Fig. 1, to hold the padat the wearers instep. I

in the form of invention B, the foot guard, and support member 12 isdifferently constructed. It has a single straight portion 41 instead ofthe two bars 30 and 31 'of the form of invention'A.

In the form of invention A, the member 11 has the bar portions 30 and 31each provided with a pair of elongated slots 50 adapted to receive screwthreaded shanks S1 fixedly mounted upon the frame 11, Y and which shanksreceive wing nuts or like clamping expedients 52 by means of which thefoot guard and support may be properly supported in definite lengthwiseadjustment upon the frame 11 in order to properly position the pad 36upon the instep according to the degree of spacing of the wearerls footfrom theknee. l

In the form of invention B, showing the foot guard and support 12, theportion 41 is provided with a single pair of longitudinally extendingslots 55 adapted to receive screw threaded shanks 56 fixed upon theframe 11 wing nuts or like clamping members 58 cooperating to providethe desired lengthwise adjustment of the foot guard and support portion12 upon the frame or casing portion. The support '12 has a skid bar 37and a curved skid end 38. It also has an instep pad 35 and footattaching strap 40*.

'It will be noted that the frame or casing portions are of one piececonstruction; the foot rest and support portions 11 and 12,being'forwardly and downwardly angled with respect to the line of thecasings 10, and thus directlysupporting the foot and lower leg of thewearer. The'foot is supported in spaced relation from the ground issupported in a natural position upon the device free W of strain] Theskid endlis; spaced upwardly from the noted from Fig. 1, and yet thedevice supports theknee,

leg and also foot in comfortable positions without strain. Variouschanges inthe shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to theform of invention herein shown and described without departing from thespirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

I claim:

.1. In a device for supporting the leg and foot of a wearer while inkneeling position the combination of a of the shin bone of the wearerabove the ankle, and a foot supporting ground engagingmember connectedto the lower portion of said frame and extendingtherebelow at an anglethereto and having means thereon for directly receiving and supportingthe upper front portion of the foot of the wearer thereon, said grounden- 3. In a devicefor supporting the leg and foot of a wearer while inkneeling position the combination of an elongated rigid frame havingsocket means for attachment to and reception of the lower leg of thewearer along the shin bone of the wearer above the ankle, and

a relatively stifI foot supporting and receiving and ground engagingskid extension connected to the lower end of said frame and projectingtherebelow at an angle thereto and extending forwardly of the line ofthe frame, said skid member being provided with means for directlyreceiving the upper part of the foot of the wearer thereupon and beingsufliciently resilient to comfortablyl support the foot and lower leg ofthewearerabove a ground surface.

4. In a knee, leg and foot guard and supporting device for applicationupon the foot of a wearer the combination of a rigid elongated framehaving means for attachment to the lower leg of the wearer for extensionalong 'rigid elongated frame having means for attachment to the lowerlegof the wearer for extension along the front gaging member at itsextreme end remote from the frame 30 constituting a ground engagingskid.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 whereon the skid is provided with aground engaging curved surface to facilitate sliding along a groundsurface.

the front of the shin bone of the wearer above thev ankle, a footreceiving and supporting ground engaging member mounted at an angle tosaid frame and connected thereto for lengthwise adjustment upon theframe for extension therebelow and forwardly whereby to receive the footof the wearer below the ankle joint and support the foot of the wearerin an elevate'd position above the ground when the wearer is in akneeling position.

: References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,348,204 Brewster Aug. 3, 1920 1,624,129 Barrett Apr. 12, 19272,565,762 Ferguson Aug. 28, 1951

